FAA deploys $875M SMART AI tool at Washington airports today

FAA: The Federal Aviation Administration is the U.S. federal agency responsible for regulating civil aviation safety and managing the national airspace system. It oversees air traffic control operations and leads technology modernization initiatives to improve flight efficiency. In this development, the FAA is initiating deployment of the SMART AI tool at Washington-area airports as the first phase of a broader rollout. SMART AI tool: SMART, or Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories, is an AI-enabled decision-support system that analyzes airline schedules, weather, and operational constraints to predict traffic flows and suggest alternate routes. Developed under a contract with Air Space Intelligence, it functions as an enhancement to flow management capabilities. The tool is being introduced today by the FAA in the Washington region to help prevent delays before they cascade. Controller Support: The system is designed to provide recommendations that assist human air traffic controllers without altering existing separation procedures or airline operations. Air Traffic Modernization: SMART represents an early operational step in the FAA's push to incorporate AI-driven predictive tools into air traffic management under the current administration.